Since founding The Edward Marshall Trust in 1993 , 7 major biennial awards have been given, together with prizes and special commissions. This page highlights the past winners.

For information about the next award Click Here

The Spare Match Campaign 2003/2004

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The 2003/2004 Edward Marshall Trust award went to "The Spare Match Campaign", by designer Afroditi Krassa, who was awarded £20,000, plus 'in kind benefits'.

The Spare Match Campaign combined innovative design with a strong social message. 10,000 pre-stamped, pre-addressed matchboxes were produced - each containing a personal message from a homeless person to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair MP.

The campaign, inspired by the tale of the 'Little Match Girl', was launched at 2004's Glastonbury Festival from 25th to 27th June, in support of the Big Issue Foundation. Revelers at the festival were invited to buy one of the matchboxes and post them after all the matches were used.

Marden House 2003 (Special Commission)

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Marden House in Calne, Wiltshire was given a special commission of £8,000 from The Edward Marshall Trust, in view of the community regeneration 'sparked' by the project.

'INTERACTION' - A wallpiece designed and made by Katharina Krönig and Alan Tilbury, consists of eight felted wool hangings and eight Russian pine frames. The hangings and frames are in related widths and can be arranged in any sequence to vary the composition.

The installation was launched on 22nd November 2003.

Earth Centre 2000 - 2001

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Earth Centre were the recipients of the fourth Edward Marshall Award worth £20,000 in cash and a further £20,000 ‘in kind benefits’. The Trust, together with Earth Centre, challenged entrants, in an international competition, to explore furniture design in a way that communicated sustainability and environmental issues in a striking or pervasive manner. The judges, headed by Professor Olle Anderson and Thomas Heatherwick, were looking for ideas which crossed conventional boundaries.

The overall winner was David Germond with his renewed latex covered furniture.

The outside furniture winner was Christopher Palmer with his Torus bench. His seating commission was valued at £28,000.

Tim Burke was commissioned to produce twenty of his five seater split benches. Tim’s commission was valued at £10,000.

Art.tm 1997 - 1999

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In 1997/98, the Trust awarded a total of £20,000 cash and £20,000 in kind benefits to the Highland Printmakers in Inverness (now renamed art.tm) to fund eight commissions for fixtures and fittings in the lottery funded refurbishment.

The project was undertaken by Sutherland Hussey Architects. This was a project that provided a unique opportunity to commission designers and artists to work in close association together and with architects and attracted over ten awards and commendations for its design achievements including an R.I.B.A. Award. The building is included in the recently published 'Scotland's 100 Best New Buildings' (Carny Group Ltd.)

Crafts Council 1996

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The 1996 Award, £6,000, went to the Crafts Council who proposed a national competition specifically directed towards those at a formative stage in their careers providing an opportunity for untested talent amongst a new generation of designers and crafts people.

The Brief:
The Council required 50-80 chairs which could be produced at a competitive price. The chairs needed to be durable, comfortable and supportive for long meetings or lectures. They needed to be stacked compactly when not in use, easily handled and to conform to Fire and Safety Standards. The question of linking groups of chairs also needed addressing. There was no preference for materials but the chairs had to relate to the concerns of the Council that it could be prototyped by, or in collaboration with, the designer and be capable of manufacture by crafts technology rather than mass manufacture.

Most of all the selection panel were looking for a brilliant design in the spirit of the age.

Oriel 1995

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The Edward Marshall Award 1995

The Edward Marshall Trust presented Dutch designer, Tejo Remy, with an Award of £9,000 to enable him to produce specially designed furniture for the new area of activity in Oriel, Cardiff. This would enable visitors to spend time in a comfortable yet stimulating environment. The results of Remy's work are exciting, imaginative and unorthodox. His expressive designs reflect the spirit of the age combining elm wood with steel, and re-using galvanised buckets, nylon monofilaments from car-wash technology and redundant laboratory fittings. His designs are refreshingly devoid of sentimentality, a trait often currently associated with recycling of materials.

Royal College of Art - prizes

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The Edward Marshall Prize 1993 - 1998

In 1993, the Trust launched an annual competition in association with the Royal College of Art. Its intention was to promote design thinking outwith obvious consideration of style and function. In other words an approach in which other things and/or the user act as an integral component of the final result. (1+1=3) Generous help from Elu and then DeWalt allowed tool prizes of up to £3,000 per year to be won.

Sunflower Competition 1999 to 2003

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The Edward Marshall Trust Sunflower Competition was open to those who knew Ed, or who were associated with the Trust. Prizes were awarded for entries under various categories, such as, "Really Green Fingers", "Van Gogh" and "Cutest". The competition was renowned for some spectacular cheating attempts by the entrants - all of which were 'rooted-out' by the even-handed vote counting system and clearly unbiased judges. Some of the classic winners are shown above.